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Tuesday, 16 October 2012

Tomorrow, an Arsenal side comprising of a mixture of U21 and first team players will take on Chelsea at London Colney. The friendly has been arranged to continue the recuperation of Jack Wilshere after a 14 month injury lay-off, as well as Emmanuel Frimpong and Bacary Sagna.

All three featured in the reserves' match against Reading last week, with Wilshere receiving over 70 minutes, Sagna an hour, and Frimpong the whole game. However they were unable to immediately build on this due to the absence of a fixture the following week. Thus, the club have arranged the private friendly against Chelsea.

There will be no regulations with regards to age tomorrow, so expect further players on the fringes of first team football to feature, such as Andre Santos, Francis Coquelin and Sebastian Squillaci. It will be a beneficial and perhaps necessary exercise in maintaining their fitness levels.

With Kieran Gibbs hobbling off in the game against West Ham almost a fortnight ago, meaning he is now "very doubtful" for Norwich on Saturday, it is vital for Santos to be in prime condition in the readiness of a return to the starting line-up.

Marouane Chamakh may well begin up front, and Andrey Arshavin, who has received scarce first-team football this season, is also likely to feature.

With the friendly against Chelsea and another U21 game against Everton next Monday, there is plenty of game time for Jack Wilshere in his pursuit of fitness, and Arsenal fans can certainly be hopeful of a return in time for Reading away in the League Cup at the end of October. Fingers crossed.